Fix: Internet Shortcut is Not Deleting

Remove pesky shortcuts by bending the rules a bit

4 min. read

Published onNovember 8, 2023

published onNovember 8, 2023

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Key notes

Internet shortcuts are a quick and convenient way to access frequently visited sites, but when they are not deleting after you’re done with them, your desktop can become unsightly.

After testing various workarounds, our experts were able to come up with some successful resolutions.

How do I get rid of a shortcut that won’t go away?

Start off with the following basic steps before any technical troubleshooting:

1. End the process in Task Manager

If you don’t find any process with a similar name, you may have to end all browser-related processes then try deleting it again.

2. Move the file to a folder

By creating a folder and moving the shortcut, you can easilyforce delete the foldercompared to a shortcut. However, if it’s ashortcut that is not working, changing its location to a new folder may suffice.

3. Reset Internet Explorer settings

4. Disable the UAC settings

With UAC disabled, you’ll no longer require administrative privileges to delete files.

5. Use the Command Prompt

6. Use a third-party program

If you’re still having trouble getting rid of those unwanted shortcuts, perhaps the introduction of a third-party app that can delete it will interest you. In this case, the problem is not with the shortcut file but with your computer’s operating system.

7-Zipis a famous archiver with some additional features and supports a decent number of formats. It fits the job, especially in cases where yourdesktop icons are corruptedand won’t delete.

Hopefully, you’ve been able to get rid of that internet shortcut that has overstayed its welcome on your desktop.

If nothing works, you can go to the extreme ofperforming a clean install of Windows, but if it’s the unsightly arrow usually found at the corner of the file, you canremove the shortcut arrowfor a cleaner look.

Your feedback is important to us, so make sure you leave any additional thoughts or comments below.

Fix: Internet Shortcut is Not Deleting#

How do I get rid of a shortcut that won’t go away?#

1. End the process in Task Manager#

2. Move the file to a folder#

3. Reset Internet Explorer settings#

4. Disable the UAC settings#

5. Use the Command Prompt#

6. Use a third-party program#